Chapter 7

Seven

I didn’t realize how late in the day it was until I stepped through the doorway. While the sun was still visible in the sky, shadows had begun to creep amongst the trees, the ever present fog more gray than white, making the pathway harder to see.

Moving away from the door, I turned toward the old woman, “Thank you…” I hesitated, just realizing that, while I have spent pretty much the entire day with her, somehow I forgot to ask one important thing, “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting to ask you for a name.”

“Just call me grandmother,” she answered, holding out a small cloth bag filled with soul cakes, “All my children do.”

“Thank you, Grandmother,” I lowered my head, a warm sensation filling my chest as I took the bag, a void being filled left behind when my father had died, “Please, take care. I hope to see you at the festivities tomorrow.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” Grandmother smiled, turning her attention to the nearby forest.

Either time has frozen or I’ve forgotten how to breathe as I watched as a figure approached from the forest. Eyes so blue they were the color of the purest ice focused on me, holding me in some sort of trance. White hair with silver highlights, tall but lean, and a smirk upon his lips that was just full of mischief. And he was looking at me. Smiling… At me.

“Wisp,” Grandmother called out to him when he was a few feet away.

My heart ached as he turned his attention to her, leaving me feeling lost. Who is this guy and what has he done to me?!

“Just Will,” the man answered, his voice lighting a fire in my veins with just those few words. Yep, I’m a goner, “Please, Grandmother. If I may, I would like to go by Will.”

Grandmother nodded, “Very well. Will, please, escort young Moira here to her home.”

“Or just to the village square,” my face heated as he returned his attention to me, a look as if I had hung the very stars themselves, shining in his eyes, “I don’t want to put you out and my apartment isn’t that much farther from there.”

Will shook his head, “It will be dark by the time we reach the square,” reaching forward he took my hand in his, bringing it to his lips, placing a soft kiss to the back of my hand as his eyes stared deeply into my own. His voice a hushed whisper as he spoke, “Please, don’t deny me the honor of seeing you safely to your door.”

My breath hitched as I stared back in shock. I mean, what does one say to that aside from, “Of course. As you wish.”

That smile… oh how it makes my heart stutter and my knees weak. I have never felt this way about anyone. It is rather quite addicting.

Without another word, Will turned and began walking towards the path, pulling me close to his side.

All around us the forest became more shadows than light but I felt no fear. When it became too dark to see more than a few feet he summoned a light made of white and blue flames that flickered in front of us, but never got any closer and never burned hot enough to hurt.

By the time we reached the end of the path street lights were coming on. The parking lot by the grocer was empty, the store having closed a few hours prior.

With the cloth bag containing the soul cakes in my other hand, I really didn’t need the ingredients in my backpack. But I was still grateful to have them, since now I won’t have to return tomorrow and deal with the last minute rush.

Now that we were out of the forest, it was my turn to pull on his hand, leading him through the streets. Several cars passed by, and there were a few people walking along the sidewalks, but usually we were alone, making me more than grateful that Will insisted on coming along.

Even though we had just met not even an hour ago there was something about him that called to me. Somehow I knew he would never let me get hurt, that he would fight for me, protect me, from anything that dares to go bump in the night.

Before I knew it, we were standing in front of the main door to my apartment complex. Instead of doing the stereotypical goodbye on the front stoop, with a chaste kiss and goodnight, I continued to lead Will into the building. Inside the hallway was empty, a muffled silence wrapped around us, as we continued to walk through the foyer, into the elevator, up to the third floor, and past my neighbor’s doors.

There, we stood like awkward teenagers. Sharing breaths as we just stared at one another. Refusing to let go of one another and yet refusing to do anything more than just stand there.

“Would you like to go with me to the All Hallows Festival tomorrow night?” My face heated as I realized I had just gone and blurted that out. What am I asking? Wait, what if he already has someone and I’m hitting on a taken man? Oh my stars!

I turned my attention to the doors at the end of the hall, unable to keep looking at him, while I continued to embarrass myself. My voice lowered, I muttered, “That’s if you don’t have someone to go with, I mean.”

Gentle fingers cupped my chin, tilting my head up until I had no choice but to look at him, “I would love to.”

Nodding, he leaned forward, his lips brushing against my cheek. Then he pulled back, his hand releasing mine as he took a step away.

Reaching out, I grabbed his wrist, stopping him mid step, “Where are you going?”

Will gave me that light smile of his that I was coming to love, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll find someplace to spend the night.”

For some reason I don’t think he’s talking about a place of his own or a hotel room. “It’s getting late. I don’t have much but I do have a couch you can sleep on and I’m sure I can find some food in the kitchen to make us a late dinner. So please, come inside.”